Dr. Ove Peters Joins Endodontic Faculty

July 30, 2007

The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry has appointed Dr. Ove A. Peters to the position of professor in the department of endodontics, effective July 1. Peters is directing endodontic research at Pacific and will be involved in many of the interdisciplinary efforts to advance research within the dental school.

"Dr. Peters will be instrumental in helping to establish the infrastructure for clinically applied research within the department of endodontics and the School of Dentistry," said Dean Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr. "He has a superb track record in scholarship and research that is distinctive and crosses disciplines. The quality of his endeavors should have the capability of attracting future grants in the clinical and/or basic science arenas to the dental school."

Peters is a world-renowned endodontist whose main scientific research interests are the performance of nickel-titanium rotary root canal instruments tested by micro-computed tomography and torque-testing devices, as well as the biologic response to root canal treatment. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers in international journals as well as several book chapters and lectured both nationally and internationally.

Prior to joining Pacific, Peters served as an assistant clinical professor at University of California at San Francisco, where he also received his master of science degree in oral biology in 2001. In 2004, he entered an endodontic residency at UCSF and earned his certificate in 2006.

Before coming to San Francisco, Peters was as an assistant professor and head of the faculty practice in restorative dentistry at the University of Zurich, Switzerland from 1998 to 2001, where he also pursued endodontic training. During this time, he established an endodontic research program, with a focus on root canal instrumentation and disinfection. These efforts led to more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and ultimately the title of "Privatdozent" (PhD, awarded 2002). While at the University of Zurich, Peters also taught undergraduate and postgraduate endodontics and provided more than 50 continuing education courses.

Peters received his undergraduate training in dentistry at the University of Kiel, Germany in 1990. He then spent two years in the department of neurophysiology at the University of Kiel, and a year in private practice near Hamburg, Germany. After a year as a volunteer dentist in Port Antonio, Jamaica, Dr. Peters moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where he served as an assistant professor of prosthodontics at the University of Heidelberg.

Peters currently serves on the editorial board and review panels of the International Endodontic Journal, the Journal of Endodontics and Endodontic Topics. He is a member of the International Federation of Endodontic Associations and is a fellow of the International College of Dentists.